Eastwood Casts Real Heroes In “15:17 To Paris”

Clint Eastwood has set non-actors Anthony Sadler, Alek Skarlatos, and Spencer Stone to play themselves in “The 15:17 to Paris” at Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow.

The true story tale follows the three Americans who stopped a terrorist on a train bound for Paris. Eastwood began a wide-ranging search for actors and both he and the studio had settled on choices until the last minute when the director decided to have Sadler, Skarlatos and Stone portray themselves.

Jenna Fischer, Judy Greer, Ray Corasani, Paul-Mikel Williams, Max Ivutin, Bryce Gheisa, Cole Eichenberger, and William Jennings will also join the real-life heroes in the film which is expected to begin during their childhood and show their friendship leading up to the moment that changed their lives.

This means their roles will not be full-on leads. The casting is not hugely unusual for Eastwood as his “Gran Torino” film featured a cast of almost entirely unknowns bar Eastwood himself.

Dorothy Blyskal will write the script while Eastwood will produce with Tim Moore, Kristina Rivera and Jessica Meier.